OpenProject vs Trello
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
OpenProject is a free and open source project management software that offers a range of features to support project planning, team collaboration, and project tracking. It is designed to be highly customizable and scalable, making it suitable for a wide range of projects and teams.
Trello is a kanban-style project management tool built around boards, lists, and cards, making it one of the most approachable ways to visualize workflow for teams and individuals alike. Its drag-and-drop simplicity has made it a go-to choice well beyond software teams, from event planning to personal task management. Power-Ups extend basic boards with features like calendar views, custom fields, and automation via Butler, Trello's built-in no-code rules engine that can automate card moves, due date reminders, and checklist actions. Because it owned by Atlassian, Trello integrates well with Jira and Confluence for teams that need lightweight boards alongside more structured engineering tools.
Free for personal use with unlimited cards; paid plans start at $5/user/month.
- Highly customizable and scalable
- Supports a range of project management methodologies
- Offers a range of features to support team collaboration
- Free and open source
- Extremely simple to learn
- Generous free tier
- Flexible for non-software use cases
- Good Butler automation
- Can be complex to set up and configure
- Limited support for mobile devices
- May require technical expertise to customize
- Limited for complex, multi-team project tracking
- Fewer reporting features than Asana or Jira
- Can get messy with many cards on one board
What reviewers say
OpenProject Reviews
No reviews yet.
Trello Reviews
4.3 (4)Solid choice
I switched to Trello last quarter and haven't looked back. Good Butler automation. One minor gripe: fewer reporting features than asana or jira, but it hasn't been a dealbreaker. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
Solid choice
Our team evaluated a few options before settling on Trello. Flexible for non-software use cases. One minor gripe: limited for complex, multi-team project tracking, but it hasn't been a dealbreaker. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
Solid choice
We've been using Trello for a few months now and it's genuinely made a difference for our team. Good Butler automation. No major complaints so far. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
More alternatives & similar tools
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataOpenProject is a free, open‑source tool with deep agile features and high customizability but a steeper setup, while Trello offers an instantly usable, visual kanban experience with generous free tier and simpler learning curve.
Key differences
- •OpenProject provides built‑in Scrum/Kanban, Gantt charts, time tracking and issue tracking; Trello focuses on simple kanban boards with optional Power‑Ups.
- •OpenProject is free and open source, requiring self‑hosting and technical expertise; Trello is SaaS with a freemium model and no self‑hosting.
- •OpenProject supports version‑control integrations (Git, SVN) and LDAP; Trello integrates primarily with Jira, Slack, Google Drive.
- •Trello runs on web, mobile (iOS/Android) and desktop apps; OpenProject has limited mobile support.
- •Support for OpenProject is community/email only; Trello offers a Help Center with paid support options.
Pricing & value
OpenProject is completely free and open source, whereas Trello's advanced features require paid plans.
Ease of use / learning curve
Trello’s visual boards are instantly intuitive; OpenProject can be complex to set up and configure.
Features & depth
OpenProject includes Scrum/Kanban, Gantt, time tracking, issue tracking, customizable workflows, and reporting.
Integrations & ecosystem
Both offer key integrations: OpenProject with Git/SVN/LDAP; Trello with Jira/Slack/Google Drive.
Collaboration
Trello provides real‑time board updates across web, iOS, Android, and desktop, while OpenProject has limited mobile support.
Scalability
OpenProject is highly customizable and scalable for multiple methodologies; Trello is better for small/simple teams.
Support
Trello offers a dedicated Help Center; OpenProject relies on community and email support only.
Choose OpenProject if…
Technical teams or freelancers needing free, deep agile tooling and willing to manage self‑hosting.
Choose Trello if…
Small teams or individuals wanting quick, visual task boards with minimal setup.
Common questions
Is there any cost to use OpenProject?
No, OpenProject is free and open source.
Can I use Trello on mobile devices?
Yes, Trello has iOS and Android apps.
Which tool supports version‑control integration?
OpenProject integrates with Git and SVN; Trello does not.